About 50 guests from the maritime business, trade associations and industry gathered at Hamburg’s Anglo-German Club at the invitation of the Atlantic Port of Halifax, Canada, Farhad Vladi, one of its ‘Port Ambassadors’ and Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM). In her speech of welcome, Karen Oldfield, President & CEO of Halifax Port Authority, made it clear that the Canadian universal port on the Atlantic has great hopes of the CETA free trade agreement between the EU and Canada. Karen Oldfield joined Geoffrey Machum, Chairman of Halifax Port Authority, and Graham Fraser, Director Development & Growth, and members of the Canadian port delegation in presenting Halifax’s prospects for development. She and her colleagues believe that the CETA – Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – will bring about the disappearance of numerous impediments to trade, e.g. still prevailing Customs duties. This will create fresh stimuli for seaborne foreign trade between Canada and Europe that will lead to increased cargo throughput in the ports. Oldfield is certain that Halifax and Hamburg will profit.

In his speech, HHM CEO Axel Mattern discussed the cargo volumes already being handled now between Hamburg and Canadian ports. In 2014 alone, a total of 175,000 TEU from or for Canada were handled in Hamburg. Last year seaborne cargo volume there reached 4.7 million tons. Since summer 2014, Halifax has been the first port in North America to become a member of Port of Hamburg Marketing. The visit to Hamburg took place during the Port Birthday celebrations, which very favourably impressed the Canadian guests.